Fastest angle off the wind and apparent wind

I seem to have hit a ceiling with my speed that I need to bust through and I have an idea that I'm stuck in my old slalom ways and sailing too close to 90 degrees to the wind. What is the fastest angle off the wind and how then does the apparent wind at that angle affect how much I should be sheeting in?

Thanks for your advice.

btw I've at least busted through the "glass" ceiling to be able to afford my windsurfing addiction.

Oh, and while I'm at it, how much should I drop my fin size between choppy open water like Wellington Point and somewhere like Burrum Heads or Golden Beach?

Yesterday the angle you where sailing off the wind was fine, maybe run off the swells a bit further in the gusts and head closer when the wind drops.

Can't remember whether you are running adjustable outhaul, definitely helps- to be powered up enough for the angle off the wind you should be maxed across the wind, so pull it on for normal angles then bang it to negative off the wind then each run you do find the setting where you are most comfy.

Fin size yer what vando said or maybe even more- it is dependant on how free the course is, though it's nice having a nice small fin off the wind but you gotta be able to sail back up. At burrum or lota you will find the board creates alot more lift so might have to move mast foot another cm or 2 forward. Oh and when you are sailing those spots go as close to the bank as you dare and then some.

It's good to see you back on the water, now it just takes time

That's actually true, find someone better and chase the bugger

Is it at that point that I should be thinking about carrying a larger sail? Intitally I'd feel drag from my fin before I got to that point. I've fixed that and now I get to that running out of wind feeling but feel like the board stops accelerating and the sail powerless.

As a general rule, 110-120 degrees is good. But when it gets really windy (25+) and flat then 125-135 degrees can work even better. Any more than 135 degrees and your not developing enough lift from your fin and you'll start to slow down to the windspeed, rather than accelerating the wind. Also go for larger sails in lighter air if you want to go broader than 120 degrees. If the sail feels almost too big on a beam reach then that's probably about right. Sheet in less the broader you go and try to stand more upright. If you can hold the sail as vertical as possible that will help a bit too. Use longer harness lines but not so your arms are completely straight.